French-speaking Brussels formator David Leisterh has no intention of discussing whether not to postpone the next phase of the low-emission zone in the capital. "We can't discuss it," he told BX1 on Friday.
At the beginning of September, Brussels' French-speaking negotiators Ahmed Laaouej (PS), Christophe de Beukelaer (les Engagés) and David Leisterh (MR) agreed on two issues – one of which was to postpone the entry into force of the next phase of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ). A proposal for an ordinance to push the next phase back two years is planned by the three parties. The measure would therefore not come into force until 1 January 2027.
The move came as a shock to Flemish parties negotiating for the Dutch-speaking side of the Brussels government. Flemish Brussels formator Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) demanded on Wednesday that the MR, PS and Engagés withdraw their proposed ordinance. She called for a negotiated compromise. Van den Brandt, who is the outgoing Brussels Minister for Mobility, put forward one possible solution: a temporary freeze on fines for future offenders.
But on Friday, Leisterh rejected this proposal, calling Van den Brandt's proposal "a little pernicious" and questioning the logic behind keeping the rule, but not applying it. "That's old politics that I don't want to down that path." Leisterh also pointed to the lack of time available for people to know if they will be able to continue using their vehicles or not. "January 1 2025 is tomorrow. We are talking here about a two-year postponement. It's just a postponement; I think there's already a basis for compromise."
He refuted the notion that French-speaking parties are taking matters into their own hands and insisted that the decision to delay the tighter LEZ has a majority approval. "Our text is co-signed by the Flemish Liberals. More or less the same text has been tabled by the Flemish Socialists. It's an ideological argument, not a community one."
On Thursday, Les Engagés had already rejected the proposals to reopen discussions on the subject. MR president Georges-Louis Bouchez threatened on Twitter to start on "other parliamentary initiatives". He again stated his wish to "put an end to Good Move (mobility plan) in Parliament in the next few weeks."
